1979 Maserati Merak SS
Chassis: AM122A*457*
Registration: BRD 784T

• 66,800 miles
• Right hand drive UK supplied
• Current owner since 1988
• Extensive history file

Designed by Giugiaro at Ital Design and engineered by Giulio Alfieri at Maserati, the Merak was Maserati’s first ‘entry-level’ supercar and was one of the prettiest cars the company ever built. It was launched in 1973 and a few early versions were sold in the UK, however, the advent of the uprated SS model in 1976 boosted sales making this the most successful Maserati model in the UK to that date with 114 examples delivered before production ceased in 1983.

Taking the four-cam all alloy V6 engine that had been originally designed by Alfieri for the Citroen SM and fitting it amidships with a Citroen derived 5-speed transaxle was an inspired decision. By enlarging the capacity to 3.0 litres and then uprating it with higher compression pistons and larger ports and valves for the SS version, the power output crept up to 220 bhp, giving the Merak useful performance. However, it was the accurate steering and superb handling balance that built the car its reputation. Alfieri also made use of the Citroen connection in terms of offering the Merak with high-pressure LHM brakes, headlight pod operation and also a power-assisted clutch, imbuing the car with a light and sensitive feel that made it far easier to drive than its contemporaries.

This particular Merak SS was registered new in the UK in February 1979. Little is known of its early life but in 1983 it was purchased by a Dane living in Scotland who fitted the private number plate ‘25 HOT’. He was already the fifth owner and the car at that time had covered 9,000 miles. It appears that the car was immediately pressed into action for a trip to Italy, which sadly ended in the need to have the head gaskets replaced in Bologna (perhaps 25 was too hot). Incredibly the invoice for this work from the legendary AUTOSPORT is still in the file. Back home in Scotland the car was maintained by the equally legendary Nicholsons of Forres, a Citroen and Maserati dealership owned by well-known Maserati racer Ray Fielding.

By 1988 however, the car was down south and for sale once again, this time being offered by Grayshott Motor Co in Surrey, who were then modern Maserati dealers. There is an invoice on file for further engine work and it appears that our enthusiastic Dane had reached the end of the road. It attracted the attention of the current owner, who bought the car from Grayshott in 1988 post-engine repair. The invoice is on file and he paid £24,500. The Merak had by that time covered 18,900 miles. During the sale the private plate was removed and the original plate of BRD 784T was refitted, which it still carries today.

The car was put into regular use, covering approximately 2000 miles per year. Diligent record keeping means that every MOT is on file and services, which mostly at that time were by a local garage, Autotek.

In 1994, the paintwork had deteriorated and the car was booked into Stag Coachworks in nearby Frensham for a bare-metal repaint. The decision was then made to change the colour from gold, to the more traditional Italian racing red. There are some photos in the file of before and after. With that work completed in late 1995, it was pressed back into service and having joined the Maserati Club, the owner took it on more and more ambitious tours. As before, all the MOTs and annual service records are on file, including a clutch change in 2004 at the mileage of 42,200.

However, after a bout of unreliability and on the advice of some fellow Club members, the car was booked in with McGrath for a ‘sort out’. Various works were then undertaken by us over the next few years including a gearbox repair, a new stainless steel exhaust system, some camshaft repairs and a steering rack rebuild.

By 2015, the engine had begun to burn oil and the decision was made to carry out an engine rebuild. This was done by us thoroughly at the mileage of 57,300 and all the invoices are on file.

Since then we have continued to see the car regularly for servicing and other repairs and in 2023, it went to Autofficina in Epsom for some body repairs to the notoriously rust fuel tank bins and engine bay chassis tubes.

Considering how many Meraks have been allowed to deteriorate and then suffered poor quality restorations over the years, the benefits of an authentic original from long-term ownership cannot be overstated. Apart from the colour change and a minor mod to the air conditioning, this is an incredibly original and sound example which has been maintained regularly with the mileage today around 66,800.

Of those 114 cars imported here, we believe that no more than half survive, and of those few will be as good as this one.

Included in the asking price will be an annual service and MOT test and it is being offered at the very realistic price of £55,000.